More than a third of transplant patients on Tyneside are now being saved by organs which would have been rejected a decade ago.

Resourceful surgeons are using the lungs of smokers and "repaired" hearts in a bid to solve a desperate shortage of organs.

And for the first time in many years the transplant team at Newcastle's pioneering Freeman Hospital have hit their heart and lung swap target of 80 in 12 months.

Prof John Dark, a cardiothoracic specialist, who heads the heart and lung transplant team, revealed advances in medicine means less than perfect organs can now be used.

He said: "We usually perform about 70 heart and lung transplants a year so we are delighted to have hit our target in the last 12 months.

"The increase is in lungs because we now do not automatically rule out the lungs of smokers. We test them to see how much oxygen they have and if the result is good and they are working properly we can use them.

"Obviously we would not transplant organs which were not in good enough shape because it would be a waste for the patient and a waste of money."

Around 25 people who have lung transplants at the hospital this year will receive the so-called "marginal" organs which would not have been considered eight years ago.

Alan Armstrong was one of the longest surviving patients on the list and received his new heart a year ago after a seven-year wait.

All the 62-year-old retired ambulance driver knows about his donor is he was a 52-year-old Londoner, who died from a brain haemorrhage.

Alan, of Pembroke Court, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, had his six-hour operation at the Freeman last April 5.

He is all for surgeons using whatever organs are available.

Alan, who has two children, Stephen, 33, and Angela, 37, and two grandchildren, Matthew, eight, and Bethany, six, said: "Carrying out organ transplants is expensive so surgeons would not use organs that were not going to last for a certain amount of time.

"I think it is fantastic they are now able to use organs that are less than perfect and I would gladly have accepted a remoulded heart for the chance of life. It is a good way to get around the problem of the shortage of organs.

"Many lung patients who receive the organs from smokers are really desperate and cannot wait any longer."

Before his transplants Alan, who is married to Margaret, 59, struggled to even walk a few steps.

He stayed in hospital for only 13 days before getting a new lease of life - and was on the exercise bike within four days.

Sadly he suffered another setback a couple of months after his transplant when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He had surgery and a course of radiotherapy and is now in remission.

He said: "You have to accept what is thrown at you in life and there is no point letting it get you down.

"I found out three days before I was due to go on my first holiday in seven years, but we went anyway and had a wonderful time.

"I couldn't have got through all this if it had not been for my wife Margaret - she has been a rock to me."

For more information on the Organ Donor Register call (0845) 606 0400.